The month of Ramadan is a month of worship and recourse to God Almighty. However, there are some activities that enhance the spirituality of the month that we can do with family and friends to feel that the days of Ramadan are different days from the rest of the year, in addition to obtaining a greater reward than the reward of just fasting.
Reading a part of the Qur’an with discussion of interpretation
Not only is this an activity associated with the month of Ramadan, but every act of worship and reflection on the Qur’an is rewarded in Ramadan. It is the month in which the Quran was revealed:
“Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful” .
(AlBaqra:185)
Allocating time to read the meanings of the Holy Qur’an in a group greatly enhances faith, as each member of the group will share his thoughts about the verses, and he will feel each verse differently from the others, and in the end one individual in the group may come out with a great new meaning that will help him in his life in a way that no one can imagine. The Qur’an is a guidance for people, and contemplating it must be among the priorities of the believer in order for him to be steadfast on the straight path.
Make a short lesson for the youngest of the family to introduce them to the holy month
It was narrated that Jundub bin ‘Abdullah said:
“We were with the Prophet (ﷺ), and we were strong youths, so we learned faith before we learned Qur’an. Then we learned Qur’an and our faith increased thereby.”
The intent of mentioning this hadith is to pay attention to the Prophet’s keenness, peace be upon him, to educate young men and children and to meet with them, and that conveying the meaning of faith to the heart of the young through contemplating the signs of God in the universe is sometimes better than reciting the Qur’an to their ears, and in all that is good. Talking about the importance of Ramadan is tantamount to planting “faith” before “fasting.” Therefore, a short daily lesson to enhance the meanings of Ramadan with young people will make a huge difference in their behavior throughout the year, not just in Ramadan.
Paying attention to Ramadan decorations to encourage children
Extravagance in appearances and decorations related to Ramadan is wrong, of course, because God Almighty forbade us from extravagance in anything, but that does not prevent children from participating in some preparations related to making Ramadan decorations, or even writing some greeting cards and distributing them before the advent of the holy month, as the preaching of the month of Ramadan Ramadan is one of the Sunnahs that the Messenger, peace be upon him, urged us to do: It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, which Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has enjoined you to fast. In it the gates of heavens are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and every devil is chained up. In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.”‘
Making meals for fasting people
In Ramadan, there is a reward for breaking the fast of a fasting person, even if the fasting person is not poor. Even inviting the family to eat with you if you intend to obtain the reward of feeding the fasting person, you will be rewarded for it, God willing. However, we must not be extravagant in preparing Ramadan tables at the expense of worship and supplication to God Almighty in this holy month, as we can suffice with simple and delicious food with some juices, so everyone will be happy to gather on such food without wasting whole days preparing for one day’s iftar.
Also, we must not forget the poor from our food. A meal can be prepared for one person in addition to the number of family members daily so that the matter is not heavy on those who prepare the food, or financially costly, and this meal is for one of the poor or unable people in your surroundings. Thus, you have obtained the reward of breaking the fast and the reward of charity.
Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fast, will earn the same reward as the one who was observing the fast, without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter.”
[At-Tirmidhi].
We do not know when the last Ramadan will be that we realize, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, was praying that God would reach Ramadan, and we have to take care of our times in this month and not waste it because this is what will remain for us in the afterlife. Ramadan is not the month of television, games, or family gatherings devoid of Worship. And we must not forget that every action we do in Ramadan has a good intention, so that we will double our wages, God willing, in this blessed month.
